Playing-cards.



No. 832,674.- PATENTBD 0011.9, 1906.

W. s. JAMES;

PLAYING- CARDS.

I APPLIGATION FILED ooT.31, 1905.

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i 'cINITEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PLAYING-'CARDSl Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

Application led October 31, 1905. Serial No. 285.254.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. JAMES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Playing-Cards, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cards used in playing a game designed to provide an interesting and novel means of teaching multiplication. It is particularly intended for the use of children for its educational value, but may be used with interest and pleasure by older persons.

The deck of cards is based on the multiplication-table, embodying books numbered from l to 12, each book containing a series of cards giving thereon a question calling for the multiplication of the book-number with each number of the series of numerals selected. There are thus twelve books or tables with thirteen cards in each, the thirteenth card being in the form of a joker, making a total of one hundred and fifty-six cards in all. The jokers contain odd problems in multiplication not related to the table or book.

Several of the cards are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a card of the book or table 1. Fig. 2 Shows a card of the book or table 3. Fig. 3 shows a card of the book or table 12. Fig. 4 shows the joker of the book or table There is a series of twelve books numbered from 1 to 12, as indicated at a in the drawings. Each card contains thereon a problem or example in multiplication printed on the ends of the card, as indicated at b. Thus the book or table 1 contains the series of examples running from 1 times 1 is 2 to 12 times lare 2.4 The book or table 3 contains the series running from 1 times 3 are 2 to 12 times 3 are f, and similarly with all the rest of the books. This provides the whole multiplication-table from 1 to 12 in all possible combinations.

There is an odd card or joker in each book, having thereon an odd problem in multiplication, as indicated at c, these problems on the jokers being preferably more difficult than those on the regular tables.

In the play of the game it is designed that a player playing the cards shall announce the product of the example appearing on the j card he plays. A correct answer counts in his favor, and an incorrect answer operates against him. As many tables or books as desired may be used. Thus small chlldren use the books containing the tables may from 1 to 4 and older persons accordingly.

A convenient manner of playing 1s to shuffl e the cards of as many tables as may be desired, and books are started by playing the first or last card upon the board. From this card the book is built up by the players from 1 to 12 or from 12 to 1. In the former instance it is finished with the last card or joker. .In the latter instance 1t 1s commenced with the joker. Penalties may be prescribed for playing on the wrong book, playing the wrong card, giving an incorrect product, &c. Cards may also be called by one player from the hand of another, 1f he has reason to believe that the latter has 1t, and if the player called on has the card the play gives credit to the one calling the same. The game continues until all the books have been built up or played. Skill may be used and the interest of the game increased by blocking a book or holding out cards belonging to it on the part of any player.

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the word book printed on the upper right-hand corner of the card indicates the table being played. The word card on the upper left-hand corner indicates the number or position in the book, and in playing the former number is multiplied by the latter to form the product, which is announced when the card is played.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A deck of playing-cards comprising a series of books each containing a series of cards, each card having thereon at each end the ordinal of the book to which it belongs, and itsl ordinal in the said book, and a mark indicating an arithmetical problem relative to said ordinals, the answer to said problem being absent.

n testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of' two subscribing witnesses.

j WILLIAM S. JAMES. Witnesses:

J oHN A. BOMMHAEDT, SHIRLEY BOMMHARDT.

IOO 

